asked the Minister for Defence the qualifying period of service which entitles a short-service soldier to a gratuity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Short Service Gratuities.
35.
A short-service soldier whose qualifying service is three years or more may be granted, on discharge from the Permanent Defence Force or transfer to the Reserve Defence Force, a gratuity calculated at the appropriate rate for each year of his qualifying service.
In relation to the qualifying period of three years, recently a person was discharged from the Defence Forces with a total period of three years and one day and he did not obtain a gratuity. I was referred by Coláiste Caoimhín to Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 81 of 1947, and I have read it and found this man should have been entitled to a pension.
The Deputy is making a statement.
He got 12 days' detention within the period he served but the reckonable period was three years and one day.
The Deputy is again making a statement.
This is a very serious matter.
It may be a serious matter but serious matters should be raised appropriately at the appropriate time on the Estimate.
The point I want to make is that, if a person serves three years and one day, he is entitled to a gratuity. If he got 12 days' detention— not for being absent without leave; he was in military custody during the 12 days—this is double punishment of the individual.
The Deputy persists in making a statement.
This is a double punishment of the individual—loss of 12 days' pay during detention plus loss of gratuity. I have spoken to a legal officer who has indicated it was never intended there would be double punishment——
The Deputy is making a statement. He is not asking a question.
——in any case anywhere and would the Minister look into the case of soldiers who so lose gratuities?
I will and he will get fair play, not one bit more or less.